Weekend Wrap-Up - April 6, 2008

Columbia Wins County Baseball Tournament

Columbia High School player Aaron Floarke, #9, is greeted by his teammates after hitting a two-run homer in the sixth inning of the Eagles victory over the Waterloo Bulldogs to win the Monroe County High School Baseball Tournament. The Eagles won the game 3-0. – photo by Bob Haentzler

Waterloo High School second basemen Zack Buettner, right, makes a diving catch in the sixth inning of Saturday’s Monroe County High School Baseball Tournament Championship game. Looking on is shortstop Andrew Sandersfeld. – photo by Bob Haentzler

Two Arrested For Vandalizing Mailboxes
Two men were arrested Sunday in connection with damage to 14 mailboxes in rural Waterloo. The damaged mailboxes were located on D Road between Illinois Route 156 and Trout Camp Road.

“It appears a baseball bat was used,” said Sgt. Jim Lansing of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.

A witness to the vandalism was able to obtain a description of the get-away vehicle and its license plate. Sgt. Lansing and Deputy Chausse spotted the vehicle and were able to make an arrest. One of the men was arrested and taken to the Monroe County Jail. The other individual was a juvenile and was released into the custody of his parents. Their names have not yet been released.

Hecker Mayor Tom Hootselle reports the insurance company representing the former Honky Tonk has sent a check to the village for the payment of the removal of the debris following last year’s fire.

75th Anniversary of the 21st Amendment Celebrated Locally

Butch Kunkel, left, and Reid Herrmann toast on Saturday at The Outsider in Waterloo to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the repeal of the 18th amendment. Kunkel is the former owner of Waterloo’s 21st Amendment, which closed several years ago. The bar was a popular downtown watering hole that served great food that operated in the 1980s and 1990s. The establishment was the former site of Ray and Vera’s, owned by Ray and the late Vera Wienhoff. After the 21st Amendment closed, it became Toaly’s.

After 13 years as a dry country, the United States repealed the 18th amendment on April 7, 1933. While the 21st Amendment was ratified on Dec. 5, 1933, the production and consumption of beer was made legal by President Franklin Roosevelt and the Congress on April 7, 1933. On that April date, Anheuser – Busch introduced its famous Clydesdale horses pulling a wagon filled with beer when they strode down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. They delivered the contents to the White House where President Franklin Roosevelt enjoyed a cold, lager Budweiser beer.

Kunkel said he now hopes the Illinois government will re-consider its total ban on the smoking ban in all public and commercial buildings.

“The decision should be left to the individual business owner,” said Kunkel.

Monroe Actors Stage Company will hold auditions for the Woody Allen play Don’t Drink the Water at the Capitol Theatre. The dates are Sunday, April 13, Monday, April 14, and Tuesday, April 15 at 7 p.m. The play will run in June. For additional information visit MASC website at or call Director Kelly Shaw at 618-604-3490.

The spring meeting of the Monroe County Retired Teachers is Monday, April 14, at 11:30 a.m., at the Monroe County Annex in Waterloo.

The Fountain Creek Band will play April 12 at Valmeyer’s Corner Pub. Owner Sharon Schilling invites everyone to come on down for an evening of fun and entertainment.

It was 20 years ago today…..

During the Monroe County High School Baseball Tournament on Saturday, April 5, Ed-itor Wienhoff, right, talks local baseball with Gibault High School baseball coach Andrew Skaer, left, and Waterloo High School Athletic Director Rick Keefe. Wienhoff pointed out it was 20 years ago to the day that he, as a senior Gibault High baseball player, scored the winning run in a county tournament game against reigning state champs, Columbia High School. With CHS star pitcher and future Major League Baseball reliever T.J. Mathews on the mound, GHS’s Jeff Schreder hit a single to center field. Wienhoff was on second and was waved in from third base coach and team Manager John Holtschlag. In a play at the plate, Wienhoff slid past the tag applied by CHS catcher Eric Baldridge for the 6-5 victory. “It was my biggest sports claim to fame,” said Wienhoff, “Well, until the victories at the Fults Softball Tournament with Ryan Heavner’s teams.”

Gibault Students Connect Glow Sticks To Get Into Guinness Book

Gibault High School teacher Dave Gregson thanks all who contributed to the Marketing II class students’ project to be inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records. The students were able to connect a record 4,000 glow sticks on Saturday night at the high school gym.

Don and Carol Matzenbacher of Waterloo recently celebrated their 39^th wedding anniversary.

If it happens in Monroe County, it's news to us!

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